Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c12.2488

v1.c12.2488

1. **Kumāra-Kassapa Thera.**—He was foremost among those who had the gift of varied and versatile discourse (*cittakathikānam*).¹ His mother was the daughter of a banker of Rājagaha, and she, having failed to obtain her parent's consent to become a nun, married and, with her husband's consent, joined the Order, not knowing that she was with child. When her condition was discovered her colleagues consulted Devadatta, who declared that she was no true nun. The Buddha, on being consulted, entrusted the matter to Upāli, who had it fully investigated by Visākhā and other residents of Sāvatthi, and he gave his finding in the assembly, in the presence of the king, that the nun was innocent.² When the boy was born the king reared him, and the boy was ordained at the age of seven. The boy came to be called Kumāra, because he joined the Order so young and was of royal upbringing, and also because the Buddha, when sending him little delicacies such as fruit, referred to him as Kumāra Kassapa. Once when Kumāra Kassapa was meditating in Andhavana, an *anāgāmī* Brahmā, who had been his companion in the time of Kassapa Buddha, appeared before him, and asked fifteen questions which only the Buddha could answer. This led to the preaching of the Vammika Sutta,³ and after dwelling on its teachings Kassapa became an arahant.⁴ His mother, too, developed insight and attained to arahantship. It is said that she wept for twelve years because she could not be with Kassapa, and one day, seeing him in the street, as she ran towards him and fell, milk flowed from her breasts and wet her robe. Kassapa, realising that her great love was standing in the way of her attainments, spoke harshly to her that she might love him the less. The ruse succeeded and she became an arahant that very day.⁵